As the days grow shorter and the weather grows colder, outdoor sports and activities for young kids to enjoy after school dwindle. After sitting at a desk all day, it’s important for kids to be able to get together and have a physical outlet for their pent-up energy. When looking for a potential extracurricular or after school activity, some studies would suggest looking into Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
A study published in the European Journal of Sport Science titled, “Modern unexplored martial arts – what can mixed martial arts and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu do for youth development?” found that kids who were doing jiu jitsu 1-3x a week, for an average of about 45 minutes a day, displayed increased prosocial behavior, decreased levels of aggression, and increased self-control by double digits compared to their peers.
“[C]haracteristics such as empathy and respect for others were deeply associated with the practice of BJJ; traits that developed through training and carried over in their day-to-day lives,”
Tony Blomqvist Mickelsson (2019): Modern unexplored martial arts – what can
mixed martial arts and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu do for youth development?, European Journal of Sport
Science, DOI: 10.1080/17461391.2019.1629180
Learning jiu jitsu is about more than learning the physicality of the sport; there are many ethical or moral principles inherently intertwined with the sport’s cultural and social background. At Precision Boxing and MMA in Poughkeepsie, NY, the students are incentivized to take their learning of discipline and self-control out of the classroom. The Hudson Valley MMA students are rewarded for good behavior with pizza parties and trips to Bounce. The Ninjas class is for ages 4-8, where the younger kids are able to learn the foundations of the sport while also being exposed to the history and morality of the practice. In the Kids class, ages 8-12, the older kids continue to develop their skills and reinstate the core values of jiu jitsu. There is a corner in the lobby devoted to both the Kids and Ninjas classes with their report cards hung up to show off the exceptional behavioral marks of the students.
“BJJ-training may strengthen social identity, increase executive functioning, and promote learning transfer and motivation,”
Tony Blomqvist Mickelsson (2019): Modern unexplored martial arts – what can
mixed martial arts and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu do for youth development?, European Journal of Sport
Science, DOI: 10.1080/17461391.2019.1629180
If you or someone you know is interested in seeing what benefits jiu jitsu can bring, click HERE or call Precision Boxing and MMA at (845)-392-8495 to schedule a consultation and a free private one-on-one lesson!
